Court Decision Upholds Transfer of Raven Russia's Assets to State Authority

Court Decision Upholds Transfer of Raven Russia's Assets to State Authority

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The Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeals has green-lit the Moscow Arbitration Court's decision from May 31, 2025, that granted the Prosecutor General's Office's lawsuit to seize Raven Russia's assets in favor of the state. This move officially hands over the management of these assets to Rosimushchestvo, according to "Kommersant."

Raven Russia, Russia's largest warehouse real estate owner, has found itself in hot water due to allegations of illegal foreign control. The court agreed with the Prosecutor General's Office that 17 companies within the group were being manipulated by foreign residents.

As reported by DK.RU, the group's parent company, Raven Property Group Limited, based in Hong Kong, is accused of illegally acquiring Russian companies owning transport terminals. They failed to notify the government of their intentions and secure consent, facilitating the acquisition of logistics parks and terminals near critical transportation infrastructure, including the Moscow Ring Road, airports such as Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, and Pulkovo, the Port of St. Petersburg, and the Moscow Railway.

These transport terminals hold strategic significance, boasting a combined area of 2 million sq. m and a staggering value of 1 trillion rubles.

The Prosecutor General's Office further claimed that after the start of SVO, the owners of Raven Russia agreed in writing to join U.S. and UK restrictions against Russia and transferred over 6 billion rubles from strategic enterprises abroad.

As a result, the Moscow arbitration court decided to enforce the seizure immediately, with all companies in Raven Russia re-registering their shares and stakes under the management of Rosimushchestvo.

The owners of Raven Russia protested the hearings, claiming procedural violations and unheard arguments, and stated their intent to appeal the decision. Yet, their appeals fell on deaf ears.

DK.RU previously reported that the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia had filed a lawsuit to annul deals transferring companies under foreign influence and seized 100% of the shares of LLC "DME Holding" (Domodedovo Airport) for the state.

Insight: Asset Seizures and Foreign Control

Asset seizure is a legal process where assets are confiscated by a government or authority, often as part of criminal proceedings or sanctions. This can include real estate, financial assets, or other property.

Concerns about foreign influence, particularly in strategic sectors, are prevalent in many countries. Governments often implement regulations to prevent foreign entities from gaining control over critical industries or assets that could potentially impact national security.

Prosecutor General's Offices in various countries, including Russia, hold the authority to initiate legal actions against entities suspected of violating laws related to national security, financial crimes, or other strategic interests. Strategic companies are those that are crucial to a country's economic or national security, such as defense or energy companies.

1. The decision by the Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeals to seize Raven Russia's assets highlights the role of politics in business, as the Prosecutor General's Office, in this case, used its authority to enforce a lawsuit against a strategic company.
2. The seizure of Raven Russia's transport terminals, which hold strategic significance and a value of 1 trillion rubles, underscores the importance of the finance industry in the business world, given the substantial economic impact of such an action.
3. The General Prosecutor's Office of Russia's efforts to annul deals transferring companies under foreign influence and seize assets, such as the case of Raven Russia and Domodedovo Airport, demonstrates the seriousness with which governments regard concerns about foreign control and its potential impact on general-news issues like national security.

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